Automobile toy

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is an automobile toy, including: a first chassis to support an axle of a front wheel; and a second chassis to support an axle of a rear wheel, wherein the first and second chassis are rotatably connected with each other by a rotating shaft that lies along a width direction of the automobile toy, and a spring for biasing the first and second chassis is arranged between the first and second chassis, so as to bias the front wheel and the rear wheel to an approaching direction to the ground.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an automobile toy.

2. Related Art

Heretofore, for example, a radio-operated automobile toy has asuspension device in order to mitigate a shock added to a body throughfront wheels when running over a bumpy road surfaces. The suspensiondevice is, for example, configured to set the front wheels be movable inregard to the chassis in a vertical direction, configured to bias eachfront wheel downwardly with respect to the chassis by one coil spring,respectively, and configured to mitigate the shocks added to the bodythrough the front wheels when running, by the coil springs.

By the way, such an automobile toy as described above has a structure,wherein a lower surface of the chassis supporting front and rear axlesis flat, and the body is attached to the flat chassis (see, for example,Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-329372).

However, the invention disclosed in Japanese Patent ApplicationLaid-Open Publication No. 2004-329372 has a problem that producing anautomobile toy is difficult, because the structure of the suspensiondevice is complicated due to the structure that making the chassissupport right and left wheels movable in regard to the chassis in avertical direction, biasing each wheel downwardly with respect to thechassis by one compression spring, respectively.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention was made in view of the problem mentioned above.It is, therefore, a main object of the present invention to provide anautomobile toy, which can effectively mitigate shocks added to a vehiclebody by more simple structure than before.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided anautomobile toy, including: a first chassis to support an axle of a frontwheel; and a second chassis to support an axle of a rear wheel, whereinthe first and second chassis are rotatably connected with each other bya rotating shaft that lies along a width direction of the automobiletoy, and a spring for biasing the first and second chassis is arrangedbetween the first and second chassis, so as to bias the front wheel andthe rear wheel to an approaching direction to the ground.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, advantage and features of the presentinvention will become more fully understood from the detaileddescription given hereinbelow and the appended drawings which are givenby way of illustration only, and thus are not intended as a definitionof the limits of the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an external view of a remote control automobile toy accordingto a present embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a top view showing the automobile toy according to the presentembodiment with its body removed;

FIG. 3A is a side view showing the automobile toy according to thepresent embodiment with its body removed on condition that a firststopper works;

FIG. 3B is a side view showing the automobile toy according to thepresent embodiment with its body removed on condition that a secondstopper works; and

FIG. 4 is a side view showing the automobile toy running over a roadsurface having convex portions, according to the present embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following, an automobile toy according to an embodiment of thepresent invention will be described with reference to the attacheddrawings.

FIG. 1 shows an external view of an off-road remote control toy 1according to the present embodiment. The remote control toy 1 is a toyincluding an automobile toy 2 according to the present embodiment, and awireless remote controller 3 for radio-operating the automobile toy 2,wherein users can play with making the automobile toy 2 drive on anon-pavement road surfaces such as gravel or soil, as well as on a levelground.

FIG. 2 shows a top view showing the automobile toy 2 according to thepresent embodiment with its body 11 removed; FIG. 3A shows a side viewshowing the automobile toy 2 according to the present embodiment withits body 11 removed on condition that first stopper works; and FIG. 3Bshows a side view showing the automobile toy 2 according to the presentembodiment with its body 11 removed on condition that second stopperworks. The automobile toy 2 includes a chassis 22 (first chassis) forfront wheels pivotally supporting an axle 21 for front wheels, the axle21 connects right and left front wheels 20, 20, and a chassis 32 (secondchassis) for rear wheels pivotally supporting an axle 31 for rearwheels, the axle 31 connects right and left rear wheels 30, 30. Thechassis 22 and 32 are connected with each other by connection portions40, 40, which are arranged in two places, both side surfaces of thechassis, in an intermediate part of the both axles. Incidentally, thewords “an intermediate part of the both axles” means such positions asbetween the axle 21 for front wheels and the axle 31 for rear wheels inback and forth direction of the chassis.

The chassis 22 has a storage space in between the axle 21 and theconnection portion 40. The storage space contains a receiving apparatus50 for receiving radio-signals from the wireless remote controller 3, acontroller 51 for controlling each part by received radio-signals, and asteering apparatus (not shown) for steering the front wheels by aninstruction from the controller 51. Moreover, batteries (not shown) forsupplying electricity is placed in between the controller 51 and thebottom surface of the storage space. And then, the body 11 is attachedto the chassis 22.

The chassis 32 contains a motor 53 for driving rear wheels 30, 30 viathe axle 31. The motor 53 receives driving instruction from thecontroller 51 contained in the chassis 22, and supplied electricity fromthe batteries (not shown) contained in the chassis 22, through theconnection portion 40.

As shown in FIG. 2, the two connection portions 40, 40 are rotatablyconnected around a rotating shaft 44 that lies along a width directionof the automobile toy 2. Because the two connection portions 40, 40 areseparated from each other in width direction of the automobile toy 2,the two connection portions 40, 40 restrain both chassis from twistingaround the connection portions 40, and stabilize a rotation of therotating shaft 44.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 3, a rotational range of the chassis 22 andthe chassis 32 at the connection portion 40 is restricted by firststopper surfaces 41, 41 and second stopper surfaces 42, 42. Morespecifically, the respective first stopper surfaces 41, 41 is formed onthe side of the chassis 22, and on the side of the chassis 32, in lowerside of the connection portions 40, 40. As shown in FIG. 3A, the firststopper surfaces 41, 41 restrict a rotation of the connection portion40,40, by abutting with each other, to a direction that the connectionportions 40, 40 draw apart from the road surface. In the same way, therespective second stopper surfaces 42,42 is formed on the side of thechassis 22, and on the side of the chassis 32, in upper side of theconnection portions 40, 40. As shown in FIG. 3B, the second stoppersurfaces 42, 42 restrict a rotation of the connection portions 40, 40,by abutting with each other, to a direction that the connection portions40, 40 move closer to the road surface.

Incidentally, an abutment position of the first stopper surfaces 41, 41is set up to a degree that a slant of the both chassis may not detractappearance of the automobile toy 2 as an off-road automobile toy, and anabutment position of the second stopper surfaces 42, 42 is set up to adegree that the bottom surface of the chassis may not abut on the roadsurface.

A twist spring 43 is arranged on one side (downward side in FIG. 2,frontward side in FIG. 3) of the connection portion 40. The twist spring43 is twisted around the rotating shaft 44 on one side of the chassis,with one end being fixed to the chassis 22 and another end being fixedto the chassis 32. Preferably, the twist spring 43 should be arrangedonly in one part of the side surface of the chassis. By arranging thetwist spring 43 only in one part of one side surface of the chassis, aspace for some parts inside the chassis should be cordoned off, and aninstallation itself of the twist spring 43 will become easier.

The twist spring 43 functions, in a normal condition, as a biasingmember for biasing the chassis 22 and 32, so as to set both chassis incondition that the connection portions 40, 40 are positioned upwardly inregard to the both axles on a level ground, that is in flexure state ofboth chassis, as shown in FIG. 3A. Moreover, the twist spring 43functions as a shock absorber for absorbing oscillation added to theautomobile toy 2 in a vertical direction. Therefore, there is no needfor the automobile toy 2 to possess complicated suspension devices.Moreover, because the twist spring 43 biases both chassis so as to be inflexure state in a normal condition, the twist spring 43 can shorten atotal length of the automobile toy 2.

Incidentally, the twist spring 43 may not be restricted to making bothchassis in flexure state or to be a twist spring, if only the twistspring 43 could bias the front wheels 20, 20 and the rear wheels 30, 30to the direction of making both wheels connected to ground, that is tothe direction of making both chassis in flexure state.

Moreover, the connection portion 40 will not be disturbed to rotate, bythe body 11, because the body 11 is fixed only on the chassis 22. Whenconstituting the automobile toy 2 in this way, for example, the body 11should be divided into a body for front wheels and a body for rearwheels, then rotatably connect the bodies with each other in the sameway as the chassis. Thus, the body for front wheels and the body forrear wheels may be fixed to the chassis for front wheels and the chassisfor rear wheels, respectively, as long as the bodies do not disturb arotation of the connection portion 40.

In addition, because both chassis are connected toward upwardly in anormal condition (see FIG. 3A) at connection portion 40, and a rear sideof the body 11, which is fixed to the chassis 22, is lifted upwardly,such clearance as will prevent a fender of the rear wheel portion of thebody 11 from abutting with the rear wheels 30, 30, on condition that thesecond stopper surfaces 42, 42 come into contact with each other (seeFIG. 3B).

Subsequently, an outline of a movement of the remote control toy 1 inthe present embodiment will be explained.

As for the remote control toy 1, users can let the automobile toy 2 run,as the users like, by operating the remote controller 3. At first, aradio signal in relation to the operation is emitted from the remotecontroller 3, and the receiving apparatus 50 of the automobile toy 2receives the radio signal. Then, according to an instruction from thecontroller 51, which receives the radio signal, the steering servoperforms steering motion, the motor 53 performs driving motion of therear wheels 30, 30, and the users can let the automobile toy 2 run inaccordance with the operation of the remote controller 3.

Subsequently, the motion of the automobile toy 2 running over theconcave-convex road surface will be explained.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the automobile toy 2 running over a roadsurface having convex portions.

When the automobile toy 2 runs over the road surface having convexportions, the front wheels 20, 20 get over the convex portion at first.At this time, the front wheels 20, 20 are able to get over the convexportion with a strong grip, because both chassis are biased by the twistspring 43 to keep flexural condition in a normal condition, and thefront wheels 20, 20 are biased to a direction of connecting to ground.Moreover, although an oscillation in a vertical direction may be addedto the automobile toy 2, the twist spring 43 functions as a shockabsorber to absorb the oscillation. Therefore, the shocks added to theautomobile toy 2 will be relieved. Moreover, the fender 12 and the rearwheels 30, 30 will not contact with each other even when the automobiletoy 2 oscillates up and down, because the clearance between the fender12 and the rear wheels 30, 30 is sufficiently cordoned off.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the chassis 22 and 32 straddle the convexportion. At this time, the automobile toy 2 can run without theabdominal part of the chassis being attached to the convex portion ofthe road surface, because the chassis 22 and 32 are connected betweenthe axle for front wheels and the axle for rear wheels in flexure stateso as to leave from the road surface, that is the chassis are connectedto form a concave portion.

Finally, the rear wheels 30, 30 get over the convex portion. At thistime, the automobile toy 2 can get over the convex portion, because boththe chassis are biased by the twist spring 43 to keep flexure state in anormal condition, and the rear wheels 30, 30 are biased to a directionof connecting to ground. Moreover, although an oscillation in a verticaldirection may be added to the automobile toy 2, the twist spring 43functions as a shock absorber to absorb the oscillation, and then, theshock added to the automobile toy 2 will be relieved. Moreover, thefender 12 and the rear wheels 30, 30 will not contact with each othereven when the automobile toy 2 oscillates up and down, because theclearance between the fender 12 and the rear wheels 30, 30 issufficiently cordoned off.

As described above, according to the remote control toy 1 in accordancewith the present invention, the shocks added to a vehicle body caneffectively be relieved by the simple structure, because the twistspring 43 functions as a shock absorber to absorb the oscillation addedto the automobile toy 2 in a vertical direction, and there are no needfor suspension devices for respective wheel or respective axle.

Moreover, the twist spring 43 is easy to be assembled in itself, becausethe twist spring 43 is arranged on side surface side of the chassis, andthe twist spring 43 does not disturb a space for another parts in thechassis.

Moreover, the twist spring 43 is easy to be assembled in itself, becausethe twist spring 43 is arranged only in one place, and the space in thechassis does not disturbed compared to a conventional automobile toyhaving suspension devices arranged in a plurality of places.

Moreover, the wheels can exert powerful grip relative to a rugged roadsurface, because the front wheels 20, 20 and the rear wheels 30, 30 arebiased to the connecting direction to ground.

Moreover, the total length of the automobile toy 2 can be shortened,because the chassis are kept in flexure state in a normal condition.

Moreover, a space for another parts will be cordoned off in the chassis,because the only one twist spring 43 can absorb, as a shock absorber,shocks added to the automobile toy 2.

Moreover, the chassis are prevented from being twisted at theseconnecting portions 40, 40, and the rotation of the rotating shaft 44can be stabilized, because the two connecting portions 40, 40 connectingthe chassis 22 and 32 are separated one another in a width direction ofthe vehicle body.

The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-166743filed on Jun. 25, 2007 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-166745filed on Jun. 25, 2007 including description, claims, drawings andsummary are incorporated herein by reference in its entirely.

Although various exemplary embodiments have been shown and described,the invention is not limited to the embodiments shown. Therefore, thescope of the invention is intended to be limited solely by the scope ofthe claims that follow.

1. An automobile toy, comprising: a first chassis to support an axle ofa front wheel; and a second chassis to support an axle of a rear wheel,wherein the first and second chassis are rotatably connected with eachother by a rotating shaft that lies along a width direction of theautomobile toy, and a spring for biasing the first and second chassis isarranged between the first and second chassis, so as to bias the frontwheel and the rear wheel to an approaching direction to the ground. 2.The automobile toy according to claim 1, wherein the spring includes atwist spring.
 3. The automobile toy according to claim 2, wherein thetwist spring is mounted on a side surface of the chassis at a connectionportion of the first and second chassis.
 4. The automobile toy accordingto claim 2, wherein the twist spring is arranged only in one part of theautomobile toy.
 5. The automobile toy according to claim 1, wherein thefirst and second chassis are configured to take a flexure state to letthe front wheel and the rear wheel abut in under surface side of thechassis, and an extension state to let the front wheel and the rearwheel depart from each other in under surface side of the chassis, andthe spring is arranged between the first and second chassis, so as tokeep the first and second chassis in the flexure state in a normalcondition by a biasing force of the spring.
 6. The automobile toyaccording to claim 5, wherein the spring includes a twist spring, thetwist spring is twisted around the rotating shaft, and one end of thetwist spring is in contact with the first chassis while another end ofthe twist spring is in contact with the second chassis.
 7. Theautomobile toy according to claim 6, wherein the first and secondchassis are connected to with each other at two places, which areseparated from each other in width direction of the automobile toy. 8.The automobile toy according to claim 1, further comprising: a receivingapparatus for receiving radio-signals from a wireless remote controller;a driving apparatus for rotating the axle of the rear wheel; and acontroller for controlling the driving apparatus.